The 2025 African Governance and Anti-Corruption Summit, hosted by The Bright Future Alliance (TBFA) at the University of Ghana, convened a cross-section of policymakers, civil society leaders, academics, and youth representatives from across the continent.

The event was held under the theme: "Breaking the Chains of Corruption: Empowering the Next Generation for a Brighter Tomorrow through Good Governance".

In his keynote address, Executive Director of TBFA, Bright Ofori, underscored the need to address corruption through both prosecution and prevention. While holding corrupt officials accountable remains vital, he stressed the importance of proactive efforts focused on education and civic values.

“We must start early, educating children in basic schools, universities, and even at home. Creating awareness about corruption from a tender age will shape values, change behaviour, and rebuild our culture from the ground up,” he said.

Mr. Ofori also called on Ghana and other African countries to critically examine their civic and educational systems. He reiterated TBFA’s commitment to championing early awareness as a strategy to build a corruption-resistant society.

“At The Bright Future Alliance, our focus is on building a corruption-resistant generation—before they ever touch public office,” he added.

He advocated for lifestyle audits for public officials and further urged citizens to embrace “social sanctioning” as a cultural accountability tool.

“I am also calling for citizens to adopt social sanctioning. It is a strong weapon any serious society uses to control behaviour and enforce norms,” he asserted.

The Special Guest of Honour, Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, also addressed participants, describing corruption as one of the most serious threats to Ghana’s development.

“Corruption is not just about stolen money. It robs us of our dignity; it steals from our hospitals, our schools, our roads, and our future,” he stated.

He emphasized Parliament’s ongoing commitment to fighting corruption and announced two new initiatives: the National Integrity Awards, to recognize individuals and institutions demonstrating exemplary integrity, and the Vulture Awards, designed to spotlight some of the worst cases of abuse and misconduct in governance.

The Speaker highlighted the role of young people in the process, affirming that youth leadership was already in motion.

“Young people are not future leaders—you are already leading today.”

He also commended the efforts of TBFA and Mr. Ofori, describing the summit as “timely, relevant, and driven by the very group whose future is most at risk—the youth.”

A speech delivered on behalf of Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, by the Director of Asset Recovery and Management, Albert Akurugu, reaffirmed the Office of the Special Prosecutor’s (OSP) mandate to pursue accountability at all levels of public service.

The statement urged citizens to support anti-corruption institutions and to safeguard the independence of prosecutorial bodies. It also highlighted the Youth Against Corruption (YAC) initiative, through which the OSP has engaged more than 10,000 young Ghanaians to promote awareness and empower youth as anti-corruption advocates.

One of the summit’s focal points was a panel discussion that addressed governance gaps, institutional failure, and the need for citizens to take an active role in demanding transparency.

Mr. Asiedu Nketiah advocated for critical reforms within Ghana’s legal architecture, particularly in the area of prosecutorial independence.

“If we are serious about fighting corruption, then we must separate the Office of the Attorney-General from the Ministry of Justice. That is the true path to independence and fairness in prosecution,” he stated.

He added, “Everything rises and falls on leadership. No amount of policy will work if the leadership lacks the courage and integrity to enforce it.”

In a show of continued momentum, two new anti-corruption initiatives were launched during the summit:
Corporations Against Corruption (CAC): This initiative targets both public and private institutions, aiming to instill ethical practices through onboarding education, training on procurement standards, and corporate ethics workshops.

Lawyers for Good Causes (L4GC): A pro bono legal support network that offers protection to social change advocates and reform-focused civil society groups. The initiative seeks to defend those championing justice and transparency from legal intimidation.

Speaking at the summit’s close, TBFA Communications Lead, Frank Quaye, emphasized the importance of sustaining the work beyond the event.

“This is not the end. This is a beginning. We must break the chains of corruption and rebuild a continent that thrives on integrity, fairness, and courage.”

The African Governance and Anti-Corruption Summit 2025 marked a significant moment in the continent’s anti-corruption efforts—mobilizing young leaders, engaging institutions, and reinforcing the role of collective action in promoting transparency and accountability.